Page 145 of Beat of Love
Selena trusted him to keep herdaughtersafe, too.
Trust, he inwardly scoffed.
When last had someone trusted him?
A horse? Yes. A deer? Sure.
But a human?Years ago. He had failed Charlie. And then he’d exacted revenge. Fallen deeper into the dark.
The sound of a gloved fist hitting flesh, of bone and cartilage breaking. The bellows of an unconstrained avenger finally meting out his form of justice. Blood spurting, misting him in sprays of slick red liquid, the metallic scent mixing with stale sweat and spilled alcohol and rotting vegetation. Incoherent cries of a drunken excuse of a human being begging for mercy growing weaker and weaker, a savage cartel soldier reduced to a pile of broken flesh and bones.
He blinked away the memory and glanced over the scrap of pristine white paper.
Protector. Guardian angel. Father.
The words mocked him.
Add murderer.
Because that’s what you truly are, Rafferty Lawson.
No less savage than the man he had tracked and killed.
Teach my son how to become a good man.
Oh, Selena. I’m the last person to do that.
His best option was to relinquish his claim on the boy and let another man — one far removed from violent tendencies, a good man, a churchgoer, for God’s sake — raise the child.
But while Kamila still breathed, she posed a danger to Connor.
And the boy had a baby sister, making her a target, too.
It was imperative to get both children to a place of safety, namely Lawson’s Landing.
“I’m no hero, Selena, and I snuffed out any good in me years ago. But I will honor your wish.”
He heaved a weary sigh and called Mrs. Bronson back in.
“I want them both,” he said the moment she stepped inside, before he could change his mind. “When I leave Nebraska, I’m taking Connor and Sinead with me. Make it happen.”
Her mouth fell open. She reached toward him, aghast. “Mr. Lawson, be reasonable—”
“I am being reasonable, Mrs. Bronson. It’s perfectly reasonable for a father to want his son. And keeping siblings together is preferable. You said that yourself.”
She stiffened. “You have a violent history. Dishonorable discharge. Biker clubs. Prison. And—”
He cut through her disdain. “My MC ties and time in prison were part of my undercover work. My record’s been expunged. The military’s just taking longer to amend my discharge. And I’m drug-free.”
“But…” Her lips pursed, drawing her face into a pinched frown. “Mr. Lawson, I mean no disrespect, but—”
He cut her off. “I am very serious about this matter. Connor is my son. You can’t stop me from taking custody. And I will fight for Sinead.”
“You’d deprive them of a stable, normal life?”
“I have a large family, Mrs. Bronson. We live on a ranch that’s been in our family for generations. Connor and Sinead will havestability. A good life. One filled with aunts, uncles, and cousins who love them.”
Would Aidan forbid his boys from interacting with them? Surely not?
